⚽ SoccerGrade 10Reading: grades 7-9Pythagorean theoremSquare rootsExponentsOrder of operations
The Championship Trophy Heist
Hours before the final championship match, someone broke into the stadium trophy room and swapped the gold cup with a plastic decoy. The head groundskeeper spotted a masked player darting across the pitch. Use the evidence from the stadium security logs to identify the thief.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | signature strike | player gear | dominant foot | headband style | pitch obstacle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thibaut | Curving Corner | Tracking Vest | Left Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Heungmin | Trivela Pass | Padded Gloves | Left Footed | Red Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Megan | Bicycle Kick | Shin Guards | Left Footed | Red Headband | Bright Light |
| Luka | Power Volley | Tracking Vest | Right Footed | Black Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Cristiano | Trivela Pass | Captain Armband | Right Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Pedri | Curving Corner | Tracking Vest | Right Footed | Black Headband | Bright Light |
| Sam | Trivela Pass | Captain Armband | Left Footed | Neon Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Marcus | Curving Corner | Tracking Vest | Left Footed | Red Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Declan | Bicycle Kick | Grip Socks | Left Footed | Neon Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Jude | Power Volley | Padded Gloves | Right Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Lucy | Curving Corner | Shin Guards | Left Footed | Neon Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Manuel | Bicycle Kick | Tracking Vest | Right Footed | Neon Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Kevin | Trivela Pass | Tracking Vest | Right Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Virgil | Curving Corner | Padded Gloves | Right Footed | Red Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Jamal | Trivela Pass | Padded Gloves | Right Footed | Black Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Lionel | Knuckleball | Shin Guards | Right Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Bukayo | Bicycle Kick | Grip Socks | Right Footed | Black Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Federico | Trivela Pass | Tracking Vest | Right Footed | Black Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Kylian | Trivela Pass | Grip Socks | Right Footed | Red Headband | Loud Whistle |
| Sergio | Power Volley | Shin Guards | Right Footed | Black Headband | Slippery Grass |
| Alex | Curving Corner | Captain Armband | Right Footed | Red Headband | Bright Light |
Clue 1
Pythagorean theorem
To trace the ball's diagonal path across the pitch from the sideline to the penalty spot, analyze the field measurements.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
20
5
34
50
74
125
40
T
20
34
51
85
111
40
34
50
100
40
T
20
68
34
74
85
74
10
74
75
T
20
74
41
100
74
85
37
125
74
100
111
legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse =T
legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse =B
legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse =D
legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse =C
legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse =M
legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse =O
legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse =N
legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse =P
legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse =I
legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse =H
legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse =U
legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse =W
legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse =E
legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse =R
legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse =A
legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse =S
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Square roots
To calculate the side length of the square training turf grid from its total area, solve the side dimensions.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
25
12
13
3
24
24
T
25
21
15
5
9
T
25
23
23
12
24
2
16
15
5
14
12
T
25
3
24
24
T
25
13
10
21
19
16
4
13
15
sqrt(625) =T
sqrt(4) =W
sqrt(576) =O
sqrt(25) =I
sqrt(256) =A
sqrt(441) =P
sqrt(169) =E
sqrt(16) =Y
sqrt(225) =R
sqrt(81) =N
sqrt(361) =L
sqrt(144) =H
sqrt(100) =D
sqrt(9) =F
sqrt(529) =S
sqrt(196) =G
0/16 letters found
Clue 3
Exponents
To measure how stadium speaker volume increased exponentially each minute during the disturbance, analyze the sound data.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
324
64
484
144
625
484
343
125
361
343
144
144
T
324
400
36
36
484
16
49
729
343
225
400
243
16
361
64
441
144
T
324
225
484
18^2 =T
22^2 =E
15^2 =L
19^2 =W
8^2 =H
12^2 =S
4^2 =D
7^3 =A
5^4 =N
6^2 =P
3^5 =U
9^3 =Y
5^3 =K
20^2 =O
21^2 =I
7^2 =B
0/16 letters found
Clue 4
Order of operations
To decode the coach's complex tactical board formula step by step, evaluate the operations in correct order.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
76
19
58
118
12
37
58
80
112
24
113
19
24
C
76
10
54
118
24
112
113
24
80
112
24
108
108
54
118
84
C
76
118
80
118
11 × 8 - 12 =C
11 × 12 - 19 =B
6 × 7 - 23 =L
96 + 2 × 6 =T
9 × 12 - 24 =S
11 × 7 - 19 =U
22 + 4 × 8 =H
12 × 10 - 2 =E
62 + 3 × 6 =N
6 + 3 × 6 =A
10 × 12 - 8 =D
7 × 7 - 12 =O
8 + 2 × 2 =F
10 × 3 - 20 =K
0/14 letters found
Clue 5
Square roots — the last clue
To find the exact width of the square goal box from its square footage, compute the root.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
sqrt(64) = ?
sqrt(49) = ?
sqrt(144) = ?
sqrt(121) = ?
sqrt(100) = ?
sqrt(4) = ?
sqrt(9) = ?
sqrt(36) = ?
sqrt(81) = ?
sqrt(16) = ?
sqrt(25) = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain blasted a knuckleball past the guard, then tightened their shin guards.
2.The villain blasted a knuckleball past the guard, then fastened their padded gloves.
3.The villain passed a trivela through the keyhole, then fastened their padded gloves.
4.The villain passed a trivela through the keyhole, then tightened their shin guards.
5.The villain blasted a knuckleball past the guard, then dropped a captain armband.
6.The villain blasted a knuckleball past the guard, then adjusted their grip socks.
7.The villain struck a power volley into the control room, then fastened their padded gloves.
8.The villain drilled a bicycle kick through the window, then adjusted their grip socks.
9.The villain struck a power volley into the control room, then tightened their shin guards.
10.The villain drilled a bicycle kick through the window, then tightened their shin guards.
11.The villain passed a trivela through the keyhole, then dropped a captain armband.
12.The villain passed a trivela through the keyhole, then unzipped their tracking vest.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Championship Trophy Heist
Culprit: Lionel (Knuckleball · Shin Guards · Right Footed · Black Headband · Loud Whistle)
- Clue 1 (Pythagorean theorem): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT WEAR A CAPTAIN ARMBAND"legs 12 and 16, hypotenuse = 20 (T) · legs 35 and 120, hypotenuse = 125 (B) · legs 36 and 105, hypotenuse = 111 (D) · legs 6 and 8, hypotenuse = 10 (C) · legs 12 and 35, hypotenuse = 37 (M) · legs 24 and 32, hypotenuse = 40 (O) · legs 28 and 96, hypotenuse = 100 (N) · legs 21 and 72, hypotenuse = 75 (P) · legs 9 and 40, hypotenuse = 41 (I) · legs 3 and 4, hypotenuse = 5 (H) · legs 24 and 45, hypotenuse = 51 (U) · legs 32 and 60, hypotenuse = 68 (W) · legs 16 and 30, hypotenuse = 34 (E) · legs 40 and 75, hypotenuse = 85 (R) · legs 24 and 70, hypotenuse = 74 (A) · legs 30 and 40, hypotenuse = 50 (S)
- Clue 2 (Square roots): "THE FOOTPRINTS SHOW A RIGHT FOOTED PLAYER"sqrt(625) = 25 (T) · sqrt(4) = 2 (W) · sqrt(576) = 24 (O) · sqrt(25) = 5 (I) · sqrt(256) = 16 (A) · sqrt(441) = 21 (P) · sqrt(169) = 13 (E) · sqrt(16) = 4 (Y) · sqrt(225) = 15 (R) · sqrt(81) = 9 (N) · sqrt(361) = 19 (L) · sqrt(144) = 12 (H) · sqrt(100) = 10 (D) · sqrt(9) = 3 (F) · sqrt(529) = 23 (S) · sqrt(196) = 14 (G)
- Clue 3 (Exponents): "THE SNEAK WAS STOPPED BY A LOUD WHISTLE"18^2 = 324 (T) · 22^2 = 484 (E) · 15^2 = 225 (L) · 19^2 = 361 (W) · 8^2 = 64 (H) · 12^2 = 144 (S) · 4^2 = 16 (D) · 7^3 = 343 (A) · 5^4 = 625 (N) · 6^2 = 36 (P) · 3^5 = 243 (U) · 9^3 = 729 (Y) · 5^3 = 125 (K) · 20^2 = 400 (O) · 21^2 = 441 (I) · 7^2 = 49 (B)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "CLUE FOUND A BLACK HEADBAND AT THE SCENE"11 × 8 - 12 = 76 (C) · 11 × 12 - 19 = 113 (B) · 6 × 7 - 23 = 19 (L) · 96 + 2 × 6 = 108 (T) · 9 × 12 - 24 = 84 (S) · 11 × 7 - 19 = 58 (U) · 22 + 4 × 8 = 54 (H) · 12 × 10 - 2 = 118 (E) · 62 + 3 × 6 = 80 (N) · 6 + 3 × 6 = 24 (A) · 10 × 12 - 8 = 112 (D) · 7 × 7 - 12 = 37 (O) · 8 + 2 × 2 = 12 (F) · 10 × 3 - 20 = 10 (K)
- Clue 5 (Square roots): surviving statement (box 1) → Lionelsqrt(64) = 8 · sqrt(49) = 7 · sqrt(144) = 12 · sqrt(121) = 11 · sqrt(100) = 10 · sqrt(4) = 2 · sqrt(9) = 3 · sqrt(36) = 6 · sqrt(81) = 9 · sqrt(16) = 4 · sqrt(25) = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 10 math
- Math topics
- Pythagorean theorem, Square roots, Exponents, Order of operations
- Reading level
- grades 7-9
- Theme
- The Championship Trophy Heist — set in Metropolitan Soccer Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects